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The Problem of the Passive Princess

The book has female characters, who act like women, rather than cardboard cut-outs or men in dresses. They talk to each other about things other than men. But is that enough? There seems to be a problem with women, (and it nearly always is women), who talk up their strengths, who take the lead in stories, and then don’t do anything.

If the plot carries on around them, if they only react to other people’s actions, if they sit around and wait for things to come to them, is there really a point to them being there? If the strong independent princess can handle a sword as well as any man in the kingdom but doesn’t, is there any reason for her learning to first place?

What bothers me most is not just that it happens, but we don’t always notice. Hell, I’ve done it myself. When I wrote Apple, I handed the draft to betas, feeling pleased. I had a bright, brave little heroine, who survives on her own and saves her big brother from a nasty fate. That was great, right? And the feedback came back that it as okay, but Apple was very passive. She doesn’t do much. Things happen and she reacts to them. She doesn’t really do anything to try and change her situation.

That feedback hurt, probably more than anything else I’ve received. I thought it couldn’t be true, but when I read back I could see their point. Plot fell into her lap. Other people did things and she reacted. At no point did she do anything as simple as even go exploring the house. I rewrote to take care of the issue, but I felt disappointed in myself that I had let it happen. And it’s not just me. I’ve beta’ed books and seen the same effect. Read them and been unable to point it out.

It’s not just books either. My partner was discussing a TV series he’d started watching, and was saying how it wasn’t great but it was still watch-able.

“It’s got a very male dominated cast,” he said.

“That’s not necessarily a problem for me,” I replied, trying to decide if I should watch it myself.

“Well, it should.”

And he was right. It should bother me that predominantly male casts exist because it says that women aren’t necessary for stories. And it should bother me when, even when they are there, they don’t do anything towards solving the plot. It says that plot happens to women, around women, but is not controlled by them. And more, that we accept this happening.

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5 comments

Reblogged this on Tea Talks: Home of Helen Treharne, Writer and Reviewer and commented:
I Ioved this post so had to share. There is such a barrier to getting good, well rounded female characters out there. It doesn’t help when increasingly book bloggers or promoters now become the gatekeepers to what people should and shouldn’t read of which books get exposure. I was recently told that other bloggers wouldn’t pick up my book as it didn’t contain romance as a central plot point. Individual reviewers and readers welcomed it, however. Of course, when the market is saturated with female characters in stereotypical roles, it’s difficult not to let that influence you as a writer, even subconsciously. After all, we want our books to sell. There is nothing wrong with female characters falling in love, being afraid or uncertain – it’s a part of life whatever your gender. I understand how difficult it is to balance that with characters that are strong and inspiring- after all, as humans we often struggle to be. R A Black’s post has really made me think. It’s definitely agree something to be mindful of in my next writing project.